One of the biggest revelations of the 2024 season was Lewis Hamilton inking a contract with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, who elevated to success donning the silver-black racing suit, will replace it with the classic red-yellow outfit. While the Briton is going to live his ‘childhood’ dream of driving for Scuderia, Mercedes is left with a plethora of questions.
The team, which has dedicated most of the past two years to addressing issues with its F1 car, now faces one more challenge to resolve. As Hamilton leaves for Ferrari, he will leave behind a massive void that won’t be easy to fill. While every Mercedes fan is excited to see Kimi Antonelli in the F1 arena, is he ready to take up the mantle?
Is The ‘Future Hamilton’ Ready To Replace The Seven-time World Champion?
Kimi Antonelli has been a trending name for the past few months. The young Italian prodigy is among the brightest prospects in the F1 world. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has touted him as the ‘next Hamilton.’ The teenager is dubbed to join the Silver Arrows, as Mercedes has helped him pursue his racing dream since his early days. Moreover, he grabbed everyone’s attention after clinching the F2 title. Thus, the F1 aficionados eagerly await the Italian drive for Mercedes.
On the other hand, Mercedes’ Technical Chief, James Allison, believes replacing Hamilton could be a daunting task for the young racing prodigy. Allison is confident about Kimi’s talent, and he reaffirmed that it will take him to places. However, the youngster would face tremendous pressure, as replacing a seven-time world champion is never easy. Further, the Technical head said people had similar concerns about Hamilton when he first got into an F1 car. However, he silenced all the critiques with his phenomenal racecraft and registered himself in the history books.
However, Kimi himself addressed the ‘pressure issue’ after clinching the F2 title. During a media interaction, Antonelli acknowledged the need to learn how to manage pressure effectively. Although he claimed to have handled the pressure effectively during the race, there is still a long way to go.
Toto Wolff Shares The Driver Lineup Update For 2025
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, stated that the team’s priority is to develop a fast car. Once that is accomplished, the team will consider driver options. Wolff also emphasized the importance of remaining calm, continuing the season, and focusing on car performance rather than allowing race wins to change their overall strategy.
Moreover, Mercedes’ boss emphasized Kimi Antonelli’s potential, citing his exceptional talent in surpassing others in Saturday’s race. According to Wolff, winning that race undoubtedly took a lot of burden off the rookie driver.